I couldn’t believe what I was hearing today when my 9 year old daughter called down from the bathroom, where she was mopping the floor (miracle number one accomplished only because I remembered to tell her that she needed to do her 15 minute contribution to the household before she went to Nana’s. Had I forgotten, it wouldn’t have happened - remember - if it’s to be, it’s up to you!)
Anyway, of course I wanted to see her system, I was amazed that she even had a system although she is the one that has been making lists since I can remember and gets pre-organized so far in advance that it drives me nuts (I don’t really want to worry about her birthday party details for days when it isn’t for another 10 months).
I still don’t know if she was born that way or if any of what I have been trying to accomplish has rubbed off on her, I certainly never told her she needed a system for washing the bathroom floor (a chore she requested, rule #2 - be flexible - if it makes them happy and is reasonable, go for it. Personally I was thrilled, it really needed to be washed!)
Anyway, I went upstairs and I have to say, she is creative. Her system was to sit on top of a dresser we have in there for towels and storage and swish the mop around the floor from there. That way she didn’t have to step on anything she had already washed. Who would have thought.
(a note on sitting on dressers safety: I wouldn’t recommend this system as sitting on a dresser isn’t exactly safe, my oldest daughter fell off a dresser a few years ago and broke her arm (the difference is that her and her sister and brother where all wrestling on top of it, that’s another story. Boy, times have changed.)
It is amazing what kids pick up, be it good or bad. Remember there are always little eyes watching - preferably not from on top of the dresser! But creating systems is a great habit to get into, she’s much further ahead than I was when I was 9. I hadn’t even heard of the concept, and if I had, I certainly wouldn’t have been using it to clean the bathroom!
Technorati Tags: housework, cleaning the bathroom, kids chores
the reward.
